Echoes of Ellington at the Herts Jazz Festival in Welwyn Garden City [Picture: Melody McLaren

MUSICIAN Pete Long returns to the Hawthorne Theatre, in Welwyn Garden City, tonight (Sunday).

Pete Long will be returning to Herts Jazz at Campus West in Welwyn Garden City

Pete Long’s BeBop Repertory Quintet plays Herts Jazz Club tonight from 7.45pm.

After his triumph with his Echoes of Ellington band at last August’s first Herts Jazz Festival, the band leader par excellence showcases material composed by pianists from the bebop era, including Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk et al.

Rightly recognised as a superb musician in his own right, Pete has worked with a diversity of popular icons from Vinnie Jones to Lionel Richie and gospel act The Blind Boys Of Alabama to Sting.

Working with Jools Holland has also enabled Pete to arrange music for Sir Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, Jane Horrocks, Ray Davies and Marianne Faithfull.

The famous oboe intro on Handbags and Gladrags by the Stereophonics is also Pete’s work, and a recent high was playing solo baritone saxophone in Dr John’s UK band.

He’ll be on alto on Sunday night alongside the cream of British jazz, with Mark Armstrong on trumpet, James Pearson on piano, Dave Chamberlain on bass and Clark Tracey on drums.

Tickets for the concert cost £11 online, £13 at the door, £8 for club members and just £5 for students and under-21s.

Book online at www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk/whatsonstage.html